[Neonatal conjunctivitis: microbiologic study and antibiotic sensitivity].

We have analyzed retrospectively fifty conjunctival samples from infants less than one month of age affected with conjunctivitis. Of these samples, 84% had a positive bacterial culture, with the microorganisms isolated, in order of frequency, being: Staphylococcus epidermidis (14%), Staphylococcus aureus (14%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (12%), Haemophilus sp, Chlamydia and alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus (8%). All of these showed a high sensitivity to most of the drugs tested, except to penicillin and its derivatives. Cefotaxime, ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin showed the highest in vitro activities. Of the pharmacological ophthalmic preparations commercially available in our country, sulfonamides, chloramphenicol, rifampicin, erythromycin and tobramycin are the agents more active against the bacteria described above.